Question

2017 Eclipse: Describe the eclipse that occurred on August 21, 2017, tell its type why it was special to the viewers, how it looked and how it was safely viewed (as with other eclipses).

Answer 1

The solar eclipse of August 21, 2017, also called the "Great American Eclipse" by the media, was a total solar eclipse visible within a band that spanned the entire contiguous United States, passing from the Pacific to the Atlantic coasts. A total eclipse of the Sun was visible from within a narrow corridor that traversed the United States of America. The path of the Moon's umbral shadow began in northern Pacific and crossed the USA from west to east through parts of the following states: Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, and South Carolina

This total solar eclipse marked the first such event in the smartphone and social media era in America. Information, personal communication, and photography were widely available as never before, capturing popular attention and enhancing the social experience.

It was special as no solar eclipse had been visible across the entire United States since June 8, 1918.

Total Solar Eclipse :- This is the type that we had on August 21, 2017. The Moon passed between the Earth and Sun at just the right distance that it blocked out the entire Sun for those in the path of the umbra. These occur about every 18 months somewhere on the Earth. The band of the eclipse is narrow because the Moon is much smaller than the Sun (by about 400 times!). This type of eclipse only lasts a few minutes at most because it requires an extremely precise geometry.